Endocrinologist explains the pros and cons of the keto diet 04:01

The goal of the keto diet is to force the body to use primarily fat as the main energy source for the brain, not glucose, as in a traditional mixed diet. This was told socialbites.ca by Elena Kiseleva, general practitioner and endocrinologist at INVITRO-Voronezh. She explained the pros and cons of such diets.

According to the expert, the protein, fat and carbohydrate ratio in the ketogenic diet looks like this: 20-25% protein, 70% fat and only 5-10% carbohydrates, non-starchy, gluten-free carbohydrates are preferred.

“The positive effects of the keto diet include weight loss and preventing insulin resistance; prevention of liver diseases; lowering the level of bad lipid fractions; decrease in blood sugar levels; decrease in epileptic activity of the brain; anti-inflammatory effect in autoimmune diseases; improving the course of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, multiple sclerosis; The keto diet also reduces the risk of developing cancer,” the doctor said.

It is strictly forbidden to use the keto diet for people with severe cardiovascular diseases, non-renal, renal and hepatic insufficiency, various proven enzyme deficiencies, and pregnant and lactating women.

“There are relative contraindications. These are cholelithiasis, chronic pancreatitis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, post-cholecystectomy condition, Gilbert’s syndrome, familial hypercholesterolemia, urolithiasis, gout, diabetes mellitus, especially type 1. In other words, you can follow the keto diet in these diseases, but it is always under the control of a doctor, “he added.

The keto diet is recommended for epilepsy, especially drug-resistant epilepsy. The benefits of the keto diet were discovered with this disease. Also, an indicator of keto diet can be obesity, metabolic syndrome, carbohydrate metabolism disorders (prediabetes), lipid metabolism disorders (hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia), Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, oncology, various inflammatory autoimmune diseases. The keto diet is also used in healthy people, especially athletes.

“The most challenging complication of this diet is ketoacidosis. This is the accumulation of excessive ketone compounds in the blood, which can lead to coma and even death. It develops more often in the presence of diabetes mellitus, especially type 1. Another negative effect is ketoflu. This is weakness, weakness, increased fatigue, a condition characterized by dizziness, distraction, headache, decreased performance, increased hunger, various sleep disturbances, mood swings, increased irritability, increased thirst, increased urination, palpitations, convulsions. This can happen at the very beginning when changing the diet. This Therefore, it is recommended not to sharply exclude carbohydrates, but to gradually reduce their amount to the target, ”the doctor warned.

Also, the endocrinologist noted that with the keto diet, the risk of kidney stones, exacerbation of cholelithiasis and pancreatitis, cardiovascular diseases and constipation are increased due to the decrease in the content of plant fiber.

Previously, scientists from Voronezh to solvethat a ketogenic diet may protect brain cells from stroke.